the kabeiroi were twin gods or

7/23/2019 The KABEIROI Were Twin Gods Or

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THE KABEIROI were twin gods or daimones who presided over the orgiastic dances

of the mysteries of Samothrake which were performed in honour of the

goddesses emeter! "ersephone! andHekate# They were a$so famed meta$%workers!

dwarf%$ike sons of the god Hephaistos! who served their father at his &emnian forge#

&ike their mother Ka'eiro! the pair were a$so sea%divinities! who protected and came

to the aid of sai$ors in distress# According to ($ement the Ka'eiroi were three innum'er! 'ut two of the 'rothers committed an act of fratricide# The pair $ater

recovered the pha$$us of )agreus who had 'een dismem'ered 'y the Titan%gods and

esta'$ished it in the shrine of the *ysteries# In the Cabiri 'y Aeschy$us! the two gods

we$comed the Argonauts to their is$and and initiated them in a drunken orgy#

The Ka'eiroi were c$ose$y identi+ed with a num'er of other kory'antic daimones

inc$uding the (retanKouretes! the Tro,an akty$oi! and the "hrygian Kyr'antes#

According to some the Samothrakain Ka'eiroi inc$uded not on$y the sons of

Hephaistos! 'ut a$so the Kory'antic sons of the god Apo$$on# Both groups were

represented as shie$d%c$ashing! dancing warriors of the orgies# Keda$ion! the

&emnian attendant of Hephaistos! was a$so occasiona$$y num'ered amongst theKa'eiroi# The twin gods were a$so identi+ed with the ioskouroi! especia$$y in the

Argonaut myth#

PARENTS

-./ HE"HAISTOS 0 KABEIRO (Pherecydes Frag, Strabo 10.3.21, Nonnus Dionysiaca

14.17 27.120!

-1/ KA*I&OS ("cusi#aus Frag, Strabo 10.3.1$!

-2/ "RO*ETHE3S (Pausanias $.2%.%!

NAMES

-./ A&KO4! E3R5*EO4 (Dionysiaca 14.17!

-1/ O44ES (Ca##i&achus "etia Frag 11%!

-2/ AIT4AIOS (Pausanias $.2%.%!

ENCYCLOPEDIA

(ABEIRI 6Ka'eiroi7! mystic divinities who occur in various parts of the ancient wor$d# The o

that hangs over them! and the contradictions respecting them in the accounts of the ancie

themse$ves! have opened a wide +e$d for specu$ation to modern writers on mytho$ogy! eac

whom has 'een tempted to propound a theory of his own# The meaning of the name (a'e

uncertain! and has 'een traced to near$y a$$ the $anguages of the East! and even to those o

4orth9 'ut one etymo$ogy seems as p$ausi'$e as another! and etymo$ogy in this instance is

ignis fatuus to the in8uirer# The character and nature of the (a'eiri are as o'scure as the m

of their name# A$$ that we can attempt to do here is to trace and e:p$ain the various opinio

ancients themse$ves! as they are presented to us in chrono$ogica$ succession# ;e chie<y fo

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&o'eck! who has co$$ected a$$ the passages of the ancients upon this su',ect! and who app

us the most so'er among those who have written upon it# 6 "g#ao'ha&. pp# .1=1%.1>.#7

The ear$iest mention of the (a'eiri! so far as we know! was in a drama of Aeschy$us! entit$

Ka'eiroi! in which the poet 'rought them into contact with the Argonauts in &emnos# The (

promised the Argonauts p$enty of &emnian wine# 6"$ut# Sy&'os. ii# .9 "o$$u:! vi# 129

Bekker! "necd. p# ..?#7 The opinion of ;e$cker 6Die "eschy#. ri#og. p# 12@7! who infers fromionysius 6i# @>! 0c#7 that the (a'eiri had 'een spoken of 'y Arctinus! has 'een satisfactor

refuted 'y &o'eck and others# rom the passage of Aeschy$us here a$$uded to! it appears th

regarded the (a'eiri as origina$ &emnian divinities! who had power over everything that co

to the good of the inha'itants! and especia$$y over the vineyards# The fruits of the +e$d! too

to have 'een under their protection! for the "e$asgians once in a time of scarcity made vow

)eus! Apo$$o! and the (a'eiri# 6*yrsi$us! a'. Dionys. i# 12#7 Stra'o in his discussion a'out th

(uretes! acty$s! 0c# 6:# p# @@7! speaks of the origin of the (a'eiri! deriving his statement

ancient authorities! and from him we $earn! that Acusi$aus ca$$ed (admi$us a son of (a'eiro

Hephaestus! and that he made the three (a'eiri the sons! and the (a'eirian nymphs the

daughters! of (admi$us# According to "herecydes! Apo$$o and Rhytia were the parents of th(ory'antes who dwe$$ed in Samothrace! and the three (a'eiri and the three (a'eirian nym

were the chi$dren of (a'eira! the daughter of "roteus! 'y Hephaestus# Sacri+ces were oCe

(ory'antes as we$$ as the (a'eiri in &emnos and Im'ros! and a$so in the towns of Troas# Th

$ogographers! and perhaps Aeschy$us too! thus considered the (a'eiri as the grandchi$dre

"roteus and as the sons of Hephaestus! and conse8uent$y as inferior in dignity to the great

account of their origin# Their inferiority is a$so imp$ied in their ,ocose conversation with the

Argonauts! and their 'eing repeated$y mentioned a$ong with the (uretes! acty$s! (ory'an

other 'eings of inferior rank# Herodotus 6iii# 27 says! that the (a'eiri were worshipped at

as the sons of Hephaestus! and that they resem'$ed the "hoenician dwarf%gods 6"ataFkoi7 w

"hoenicians +:ed on the prows of their ships# As the ioscuri were then yet unknown to th

Egyptians 6Herod# ii# ?.7! the (a'eiri cannot have 'een identi+ed with them at that time# H

proceeds to say! Gthe Athenians received their pha$$ic Hermae from the "e$asgians! and tho

are initiated in the mysteries of the (a'eiri wi$$ understand what I am saying9 for the "e$as

former$y inha'ited Samothrace! and it is from them that the Samothracians received their

But the Samothracians had a sacred $egend a'out Hermes! which is e:p$ained in their mys

This sacred $egend is perhaps no other than the one spoken of 'y (icero 6De Nat. Deor. iii#

Hermes was the son of (oe$us and ies! and that "roserpine desired to em'race him# The

perhaps a$$uded to 'y "ropertius 6ii# 1# ..7! when he says! that *ercury 6Hermes7 had conn

with Brimo! who is pro'a'$y the goddess of "herae worshipped at Athens! Sicyon! and Argo

some identi+ed with "roserpine 6"ersephone7! and others with Hecate or Artemis# 6Spanh#

Ca##i&. hy&n. in Dian. 1?#7 ;e genera$$y +nd this goddess worshipped in p$aces which haworship of the (a'eiri! and a &emnian Artemis is mentioned 'y Da$en# 6De )edic. Si&'#. i:

1@! ed# (hart#7 The Tyrrhenians! too! are said to have taken away the statue of Artemis at

and to have carried it to &emnos# Aristophanes! in his G&emnian ;omen!G had mentioned B

a$ong with the Brauronian Artemis and the great goddess! and 4onnus 6Dionys. :::# ?7 st

the (a'eirus A$con 'randished Hekats iasJdea purson! so that we may draw the conc$us

the Samothracians and &emnians worshipped a goddess akin to Hecate! Artemis! Bendis! o



"ersephone! who had some se:ua$ conne:ion with Hermes! which reve$ation was made in

mysteries of Samothrace#

The writer ne:t to Herodotus! who speaks a'out the (a'eiri! and whose statements we po

Stra'o 6p# 17! though 'rief and o'scure! is Stesim'rotus# The meaning of the passage in

is! according to &o'eck! as fo$$ows Some persons think that the (ory'antes are the sons o

others that they are the sons of )eus and (a$$iope! that they 6the (ory'antes7 went to Samand were the same as the 'eings who were there ca$$ed (a'eiri# But as the doings of the

(ory'antes are genera$$y known! whereas nothing is known of the Samothracian (ory'ant

persons are o'$iged to have recourse to saying! that the doings of the $atter (ory'antes ar

secret or are mystic# This opinion! however! is contested 'y emetrius! who states! that no

was revea$ed in the mysteries either of the deeds of the (a'eiri or of their having accompa

Rhea or of their having 'rought up )eus and ionysus# emetrius a$so mentions the opinio

Stesim'rotus! that the hiera were performed in Samothrace to the (a'eiri! who derived th

from mount (a'eirus in Berecyntia# But here again opinions diCered very much! for whi$e s

'e$ieved that the hiera Ka'eirJn were thus ca$$ed from their having 'een instituted and co

'y the (a'eiri! others thought that they were ce$e'rated i$$ honour of the (a'eiri! and that(a'eiri 'e$onged to the great gods#

The Attic writers of this period oCer nothing of importance concerning the (a'eiri! 'ut they

that their mysteries were particu$ar$y ca$cu$ated to protect the $ives of the initiated#

6Aristoph# Pa*, 1>9 comp# Etymo$# Dud# p# 1>#7 &ater writers in making the same remark

mention the name (a'eiri! 'ut speak of the Samothracian gods genera$$y# 6iod# iv# 2!

Ae$ian! Frag&. p# 21=9 (a$$im# +'. 2@9 &ucian# +'. .?9 "$ut# )arce##. 2=#7 There are severa$ i

mentioned of $overs swearing 'y the (a'eiri in promising +de$ity to one another 6Luv# iii# .

Himerius! rat. i# .179 and Suidas 6s. -. ia$amdanei7 mentions a case of a gir$ invoking the

as her avengers against a $over who had 'roken his oath# But from these oaths we can no

draw any inference as to the rea$ character of the (a'eiri! than from the fact of their prote

$ives of the initiated9 for these are features which they have in common with various other

divinities# rom the account which the scho$iast of Apo$$onius Rhodius 6i# .27 has 'orrowe

Athenion! who had written a comedy ca$$ed he Sa&othracians 6Athen# :iv# p# @@.7! we $ea

that he spoke of two (a'eiri! ardanus! and Lasion! whom he ca$$ed sons of )eus and E$ect

derived their name from mount (a'eirus in "hrygia! from whence they had 'een introduce

Samothrace#

A more amp$e source of information respecting the (a'eiri is opened to us in the writers o

A$e:andrine period# The two scho$ia on Apo$$onius Rhodius 6#. c.7 contain in su'stance the f

statement *naseas mentions the names of three (a'eiri in Samothrace! viM# A:ieros! A:io

and A:iocersus9 the +rst is emeter! the second "ersephone! and the third Hades# Others a

fourth! (admi$us! who according to ionysodorus is identica$ with Hermes# It thus appears accounts agreed with that of Stesim'rotus! who reckoned the (a'eiri among the great god

that *naseas on$y added their names# Herodotus! as we have seen! had a$ready connected

with "ersephone9 the worship of the $atter as connected with that of emeter in Samothra

attested 'y Artemidorus 6a'. Strab. iv# p# .>79 and there was a$so a port in Samothrace w

derived its name! emetrium! from emeter# 6&iv# :$v# @#7 According to the authors used 'y

ionysius 6i# @>7! the worship of Samothrace was introduced there from Arcadia9 for accord



them ardanus! together with his 'rother Lasion or Lasus and his sister Harmonia! $eft Arca

went to Samothrace! taking with them the "a$$adium from the temp$e of "a$$as# (admus! h

who appears in this tradition! is king of Samothrace he made ardanus his friend! and sen

Teucer in Troas# ardanus himse$f! again! is sometimes descri'ed as a (retan 6Serv# ad "en

.@7! sometimes as an Asiatic 6Steph# s. -. ardanos9 Eustath# ad Dionys. Perieg. 2.7! wh

6a'. +ustath. p# 2?.7 makes him come origina$$y from Samothrace# Respecting ardanusN ' Lasion or Lasus! the accounts $ikewise diCer very much9 for whi$e some writers descri'e him

to Samothrace either from "arrhasia in Arcadia or from (rete! a third account 6ionys# i# @.

that he was ki$$ed 'y $ightning for having entertained improper desires for emeter9 and A

c.7 says that Lasion! 'eing inspired 'y emeter and (ora! went to Sici$y and many other p$a

there esta'$ished the mysteries of these goddesses! for which emeter rewarded him 'y y

his em'races! and 'ecame the mother of "arius! the founder of "aros#

A$$ writers of this c$ass appear to consider ardanus as the founder of the Samothracian m

and the mysteries themse$ves as so$emniMed in honour of emeter# Another set of authori

the other hand! regards them as 'e$onging to Rhea 6iod# v# ?.9 Scho$# ad "ristid. p# .=@9

Stra'# +sccr't. #ib. vii# p# ?..! ed# A$me$ov#9 &ucian! Dc Dea Syr. 7! and suggests the idenSamothracian and "hrygian mysteries# "herecydes too! who p$aced the (ory'antes! the

companions of the great mother of the gods! in Samothrace! and Stesim'rotus who derive

(a'eiri from mount (a'eirus in "hrygia! and a$$ those writers who descri'e ardanus as th

founder of the Samothracian mysteries! natura$$y ascri'ed the Samothracian mysteries to

emeter! on the other hand! they were ascri'ed 'y *naseas! Artemidorus! and even 'y He

since he mentions Hermes and "ersephone in conne:ion with these mysteries! and "ersep

nothing to do with Rhea# 4ow! as emeter and Rhea have many attri'utes in common%%'o

mega$oi eoi! and the festiva$s of each were ce$e'rated with the same kind of enthusiasm

pecu$iar features of the one are occasiona$$y transferred to the other 6e. g. Eurip# e#en. .2

not dicu$t to see how it might happen! that the Samothracian goddess was sometimes ca

emeter and sometimes Rhea# The dicu$ty is! however! increased 'y the fact of Penus 6A

too 'eing worshipped in Samothrace# 6"$in#. N. v# @#7 This Penus may 'e either the Thraci

or (y'e$e! or may have 'een one of the (a'eiri themse$ves! for we know that The'es poss

three ancient statues of Aphrodite! which Harmonia had taken from the ships of (admus! a

may have 'een the "ataaFkoi who resem'$ed the (a'eiri# 6"aus# i:# .@# Q 19 Herod# iii# 2#7

conne:ion with this Aphrodite we may mention that! according to some accounts! the "hoe

Aphrodite 6Astarte7 had common$y the epithet chabar or chabor, an Ara'ic word which sign

great!G and that &o'eck considers Astarte as identica$ with the Se$n Ka'eiria! which nam

&igorius saw on a gem#

There are a$so writers who transfer a$$ that is said a'out the Samothracian gods to the io

who were indeed diCerent from the (a'eiri of Acusi$aus! "herecydes! and Aeschy$us! 'ut yeasi$y 'e confounded with them9 +rst! 'ecause the ioscuri are a$so ca$$ed great gods! and

second$y! 'ecause they were a$so regarded as the protectors of persons in danger either '

water# Hence we +nd that in some p$aces where the anakes were worshipped! it was uncer

whether they were the ioscuri or the (a'eiri# 6"aus# :# 2># Q 2#7 4ay! even the Roman "en

were sometimes considered as identica$ with the ioscuri and (a'eiri 6ionys# i# @! 0c#79 a

thought that the "enates were carried 'y ardanus from the Arcadian town "heneos to



Samothrace! and that Aeneas 'rought them from thence to Ita$y# 6*acro'# Sat.iii# 9 Serv# a

2>! iii# .>#7 But the authorities for this opinion are a$$ of a $ate period# According to one s

accounts! the Samothracian gods were two ma$e divinities of the same age! which app$ies

and ionysus! or ardanus and Lasion! 'ut not to emeter! Rhea! or "ersephone# ;hen pe

the course of time! had 'ecome accustomed to regard the "enates and (a'eiri as identica

did not know e:act$y the name of each separate divinity comprised under those common nsome divinities are mentioned among the "enates who 'e$onged to the (a'eiri! and vice v

Thus Servius 6ad "en. viii# @.7 represents )eus! "a$$as! and Hermes as introduced from

Samothrace9 and! in another passage 6ad "en. iii# 1@7! he says that! according to the

Samothracians! these three were the great gods! of whom Hermes! and perhaps )eus a$so

'e reckoned among the (a'eiri# Parro 6de /ing. /at. v# ?>! ed# *u$$er7 says! that Heaven an

were the great Samothracian gods9 whi$e in another p$ace 6ap# August# De Ci-. Dei, vii# .>7

stated! that there were three Samothracian gods! Lupiter or Heaven! Luno or Earth! and *in

the prototype of things!%%the ideas of "$ato# This is! of course! on$y the view Parro himse$f t

not a tradition#

If we now $ook 'ack upon the various statements we have gathered! for the purpose of arrsome de+nite conc$usion! it is manifest! that the ear$iest writers regard the (a'eiri as desc

from inferior divinities! "roteus and Hephaestus they have their seats on earth! in Samoth

&emnos! and Im'ros# Those ear$y writers cannot possi'$y have conceived them to 'e eme

"ersephone or Rhea# It is true those ear$y authorities are not numerous in comparison with

ones9 'ut emetrius! who wrote on the su',ect! may have had more and very good ones! s

with reference to him that Stra'o repeats the assertion! that the (a'eiri! $ike the (ory'ant

(uretes! were on$y ministers of the great gods# ;e may therefore suppose! that the Samot

(a'eiri were origina$$y such inferior 'eings9 and as the notion of the (a'eiri was from the +

+:ed and distinct! it 'ecame $ess so in $ater times9 and as the ideas of mystery and emet

to 'e $ooked upon as insepara'$e! it cannot occasion surprise that the mysteries! which we

in importance to those of E$eusis! the most ce$e'rated in anti8uity! were at $ength comp$et

transferred to this goddess# The opinion that the Samothracian gods were the same as the

"enates! seems to have arisen with those writers who endeavoured to trace every ancient

institution to Troy! and thence to Samothrace#

The p$aces where the worship of the (a'eiri occurs! are chie<y Samothrace! &emnos! and

Some writers have maintained! that the Samothracian and &emnian (a'eiri were distinct9

contrary is asserted 'y Stra'o 6:# p# @@7# Besides the (a'eiri of these three is$ands! we re

of oeotian Cabeiri. 4ear the 4eFtian gate of The'es there was a grove of emeter (a'eiri

(ora! which none 'ut the initiated were a$$owed to enter9 and at a distance of seven stadia

there was a sanctuary of the (a'eiri# 6"aus# i:# 1?# Q ?#7 Here mysteries were ce$e'rated! a

sanctity of the temp$e was great as $ate as the time of "ausanias# 6(omp# iv# .# Q ?#7 The ac"ausanias a'out the origin of the Boeotian (a'eiri savours of rationa$ism! and is! as &o'ec

remarks! a mere +ction# It must further not 'e supposed that there e:isted any conne:ion

the Samothracian (admi$us or (admus and the The'an (admus9 for tradition c$ear$y descr

them as 'eings of diCerent origin! race and dignity# "ausanias 6i:# 11# Q ?7 further mentions

sanctuary of the (a'eiri! with a grove! in the Boeotian town of Anthedon9 and a Boeotian (

who possessed the power of averting dangers and increasing manNs prosperity! is mention



epigram of iodorus# 6Brunck! "na#. ii# p# .>?#7 A )acedonian Cabeirus occurs in &actantiu

>9 comp# irmicus! de +rror. Pro. p# 129 ($em# A$e:# Protre't. p# .@#7 The reverence paid 'y

*acedonians to the (a'eiri may 'e inferred from the fact of "hi$ip and O$ympias 'eing init

the Samothracian mysteries! and of A$e:ander erecting a$tars to the (a'eiri at the c$ose of

Eastern e:pedition# 6"$ut# "#e*. 19 "hi$ostr#de it. "'o##on. ii# 2#7 The Perga&enian Cabeiri

mentioned 'y "ausanias 6i# # Q @7! and those of erytus 'y Sanchoniathon 6a'. +useb. Prae+-ang. p# 2.7 and amascius# 6it. sidor. cc$ii# ?2#7 Respecting the mysteries of the (a'e

genera$! see Dict. o "nt. s. -. Ka'eiria9 &o'eck! "g#ao'h. p# .1>.! 0c# or the various opini

concerning the nature of the (a'eiri! see (reuMer! Sy&bo#. ii# p# 2=1! 0c#9 Sche$$ing! eber

56tter -on Sa&othrae, Stuttgard! .>.?9 ;e$cker! "eschy#. ri#og.8 K$ausen! "eneas u. die

Source ictionary of Dreek and Roman Biography and *ytho$ogy#

"eschy#us, Cabiri (#ost '#ay! (5ree tragedy C%th .C.! 9

This drama -i#e# the p$ay Cabiri/! named for its (horus! represents the ear$iestknown appearance of these gods in Dreek $iterature# ;eir Smyth 6&#(#&# vo$ume7

summarises evidence of the p$ay GAthenaeus!Dei'noso'hists .=# 22# 1>! dec$ares

that it was Aeschy$us who +rst introduced drunken peop$e to the sight of the

spectators of tragedy9 and that this evi$ eminence was disp$ayed in his Cabiri! in

which p$ay he represented Lason and his companions as drunk# ragment wou$d

seem to refer to the hospita'$e reception of the Argonauts 'y the (a'iri! who

furnished them with an a'undance of wine upon their $anding at &emnos! the +rst

stopping%p$ace of the Argo on its eastward voyage# The introduction of a drunken

orgy has caused many scho$ars to regard the p$ay as satyric rather than tragic#

;hether pure tragedy may thus re$a: its gravity is a 8uestion that has 'een raiseda$so in conne:ion with the sto#ogoi of Aeschy$us and the Sundei'noiof Sophoc$es#

The Scho$iast on "indar! Pythian # 2=2! states that the names of the heroes of the

Argonautic e:pedition were set forth in the :abeiroi#G

"eschy#us, Frag&ent 4$ Cabiri (ro& P#utarch, ab#e a# 2. 1. 7. ;32F! (trans. <eir

S&yth! (5ree tragedy C%th .C.! 9

G-The Ka'eiroi 6(a'eiri7 address the Argonauts/ ;e sha$$ make the house to 'e

scant of vinegar#G -I#e# the gods ,est that they wi$$ e:haust a$$ the wine in their

drinking and 'e forced to resort to vinegar#/G

erodotus, istories 2. %1. 1 = (trans. 5od#ey! (5ree historian C%th .C.! 9GThe ithypha$$ic 6erect pha$$us7 images of Hermes -the Hermai/9 the production of

these came from the "e$asgians -of Thessa$ia/! from whom the Athenians were the

+rst Dreeks to take it! and then handed it on to others # # # ;hoever has 'een

initiated into the rites of the Ka'eiroi 6(a'eiri7! which the Samothrakians $earned

from the "e$asgians and now practice! understands what my meaning is#

Samothrake was former$y inha'ited 'y those "e$asgians who came to $ive among

the Athenians! and it is from them that the Samothrakians take their rites# The



Athenians! then! were the +rst Dreeks to make ithypha$$ic images of Hermes! and

they did this 'ecause the "e$asgians taught them# The "e$asgians to$d a certain

sacred ta$e a'out this! which is set forth in the Samothrakian *ysteries#G -(f#

($ement +*hortations 'e$ow for the GmysteryG of the Ka'eiroi and the sacred

pha$$us#/

erodotus, istories 3. 72. 1 (trans. 5od#ey! (5ree historian C%th .C.! 9

GThus too -the "ersian invader Kam'yses/ he entered the temp$e of Hephaistos -i#e#

the Egyptian god "tah/ and ,eered at the image there # # # I wi$$ descri'e it for

anyone who has not seen these +gures it is the $ikeness of a dwarf# A$so he entered

the temp$e of the Ka'eiroi 6(a'eiri7 -i#e# Egyptian gods ideniti+ed with the Ka'eiroi/!

into which no one may enter save the priest9 the images here he even 'urnt! with

'itter mockery# These a$so are $ike the images of Hephaistos -"tah/! and are said to

'e his sons#G

4#B# The Dreeks identi+ed the Ka'eiroi with certain dwar+sh sons of the Egyptian

god "tah# "resuma'$y these were the divinities who recovered the pha$$us of Osiris

after he had 'een s$ain and dismem'ered 'y Set# The Ka'eiroi p$ayed the same ro$ein the myth of )agreus%%recovering the godNs viri$ia after he had 'een torn apart 'y

the Titanes#

"'o##onius >hodius, "rgonautica 1. $1; = (trans. >ieu! (5ree e'ic C3rd .C.! 9

GThey -the Argonauts/ 'eached this ship at Samothrake # # # He -Orpheus/ wished

them! 'y ho$y initiation! to $earn something of the secret rites! and so sai$ on with

greater con+dence across the formida'$e sea# Of the rites I say no more! pausing

on$y to sa$ute the is$e itse$f and the "owers -the Ka'eiroi/ that dwe$$ in it! to whom

'e$ong the mysteries of which we must not sing#G

Ca##i&achus, "etia Frag&ent 11% (trans. ry'anis! (5ree 'oet C3rd .C.! 9GAnd they -the Ka'eiroi! (a'eiri/ grew up secret$y 'y the furnaces of Hephaistos -on

&emnos/! $earning the art of the hammer # # 66$acuna77 Onnes now # # 66$acuna77 iron

shie$ds which they themse$ves forged on the anvi$s of Hephaistos#G

Diodorus Sicu#us, /ibrary o istory 4. 43. 1 (trans. #dather! (5ree historian C1st

.C.! 9

GThere came on a great storm -in the north Aegean/ and the chieftains -the

Argonauts/ had given up hope of 'eing saved! when Orpheus! they say! who was

the on$y one on ship%'oard who had ever 'een initiated in the *ysteries of the

deities of Samothrake -i#e# the Ka'eiroi! (a'eiri/! oCered to these deities prayers for

their sa$vation# And immediate$y the wind died down and two stars fe$$ over the

heads of the ioskouroi 6ioscuri7! and the who$e company was amaMed at the

marve$ which had taken p$ace and conc$uded that they had 'een rescued from their

peri$s 'y an act of providence of the gods# or this reason! the story of this reversa$

of fortune for the Argonauts has 'een handed down to succeeding generations! and

sai$ors when caught in storms a$ways direct their prayers to the deities of



Samothrake and attri'ute the appearance of the two stars to the epiphany of the

ioskouroi#G

Diodorus Sicu#us, /ibrary o istory 4. 4?. ; 9

G-The Argonauts/ had a$ready reached the midd$e of the "ontic Sea when the ran

into a storm which put them in the greatest peri$# But when Orpheus # # # oCered upprayers to the deities of Samothrake -i#e# the Ka'eiroi! (a'eiri/! the winds ceased

and there appeared near the ship D$aukos 6D$aucus7 the Sea%Dod! as he is ca$$ed # # #

and he counse$$ed them! according$y! that so soon as they touched their $ands they

shou$d pray their vows to the gods -the Ka'eiroi/ through the intervention of whom

they had twice a$ready 'een saved#G

Diodorus Sicu#us, /ibrary o istory 4. 4$. ? 9

GThe Argonauts! they say! set forth from the Troad and arrived at Samothrake!

where they again paid their vows to the great gods -the Ka'eiroi! (a'eiri/ and

dedicated in the sacred precinct the 'ow$s which are preserved there even to this

day#G

Diodorus Sicu#us, /ibrary o istory %. 4?. 2 @ ; 9

G)eus desired that the other of his two sons -Iasion of Samothrake! 'rother of

ardanos/ might a$so attain honour! and so he instructed him in the initiatory rites

of the *ysteries -of the Ka'eiroi 6(a'eiri7 of Samothrake/! which had e:isted on the

is$and since ancient times 'ut was at that time! so to speak! put in his hands9 it is

not $awfu$! however! for any 'ut the initiated to hear a'out the *ysteries# And Iasion

is reputed to have 'een the +rst to initiate strangers into them and 'y this means to

'ring the initiatory rite to high esteem#

After this Kadmos 6(admus7! the son of Agenor! came in the course of his 8uest for

Europe -his sister a'ducted 'y )eus/ to the Samothrakians! and after participatingin the initiation -into the mysteries of Samothrake/ he married Harmonia! who was

the sister of Iasion and not! as the Dreeks recount in their mytho$ogies! the

daughter of Ares # # #

4ow the detai$s of the initiatory rite -of the *ysteries/ are guarded among the

matters not to 'e divu$ged and are communicated to the initiates a$one9 'ut the

fame has trave$$ed wide of how these gods -the Ka'eiroi/ appear to mankind and

'ring une:pected aid to those initiates of their who ca$$ upon them in the midst of

peri$s# The c$aim is a$so made that men who have taken part in the mysteries

'ecome 'oth more pious and more ,ust and 'etter in every respect than they were

'efore# And this is the reason! we are to$d! why the most famous 'oth of the ancientheroes and of the demi%gods were eager$y desirous to taking part in the initiatory

rite9 and in fact Lason and the ioskouroi! and Herak$es and Orpheus as we$$! after

their initiation attained success in a$$ the campaigns they undertook! 'ecause these

gods appeared to them#G

Diodorus Sicu#us, /ibrary o istory %. ;4. 3 9

GBut some historians! and Ephoros is one of them! record that the akty$oi Idaioi



6Idaean actys7 -here meaning the Ka'eiroi 6(a'eiri7 or Kory'antes 6(ory'antes7/

were in fact 'orn on the *t Ida which is in "hrygia and passed over to Europe

together with *ygdon9 and since they were wiMards 6gonta7! they practised charms

and initiatory rites and mysteries! and in the course of a so,ourn in Samothrake they

-as Ka'eiroi or Kory'antes/ amaMed the natives of that is$and not a $itt$e 'y their

ski$$ in such matters# And it was at this time! we are further to$d! that Orpheus! whowas endowed with an e:ceptiona$ gift of poesy and song! a$so 'ecame a pupi$ of

theirs! and he was su'se8uent$y the +rst to introduce initiatory rites and mysteries

to the Dreeks#G

Strabo, 5eogra'hy 7 Frag&ent 47 (trans. Aones! (5ree geogra'her C1st .C. to

C1st ".D.! 9

GIasion and ardanos! two 'rothers! used to $ive in Samothrake# But when Iasion

was struck 'y a thunder'o$t 'ecause of his sin against emeter! ardanos sai$ed

away from Samothrake! went and took up his a'ode at the foot of *ount Ida! ca$$ing

the city ardania! and taught the Tro,ans the Samothrakian *ysteries#G

Strabo, 5eogra'hy 7 Frag&ent %0 9

G*any writers have identi+ed the gods that are worshipped in Samothrake with the

Ka'eiroi 6(a'eiri7! though they cannot say who the Ka'eiroi themse$ves are! ,ust as

the Kyr'antes and Kory'antes 6(ory'antes7! and $ikewise the Kouretes 6(uretes7 and

the akty$oi Idaioi 6Idaean acty$s7! are identi+ed with them#G

Strabo, 5eogra'hy 10. 3. 7 @ $ 9

GSome represent the Kory'antes 6(ory'antes7! the Ka'eiroi 6(a'eiri7! the akty$oi

Idaioi 6Idaean acty$s7! and the Te$khines 6Te$chines7 as identica$ with the Kouretes

6(uretes7! others represent them as a$$ kinsmen of one another and diCerentiate

on$y certain sma$$ matters in which they diCer in respect to one another9 'ut!rough$y speaking and in genera$! they represent them! one and a$$! as a kind of

inspired peop$e and as su',ect to Bacchic frenMy! and! in the guise of ministers! as

inspiring terror at the ce$e'ration of the sacred rites 'y means of war%dances!

accompanied 'y uproar and noise and cym'a$s and drums and arms! and a$so 'y

<ute and outcry9 and conse8uent$y these rites are in a way regarded as having a

common re$ationship! I mean these and those of the Samothrakians -the Ka'eiroi/

and those in &emnos and in severa$ other p$aces! 'ecause the divine ministers are

ca$$ed the same# However! every investigation of this kind pertains to theo$ogy! and

is not foreign to the specu$ation of the phi$osopher # # #

But I must now investigate how it comes a'out that so many names have 'een usedof one and the same thing -the dai&ones ca$$ed Kouretes! Kory'antes 0 Ka'eiroi/!

and the theo$ogica$ e$ement contained in their history# 4ow this is common 'oth to

the Dreeks and to the 'ar'arians! to perform their sacred rites in connection with

the re$a:ation of a festiva$! these rites 'eing performed sometimes with re$igious

frenMy! sometimes without it9 sometimes with music! sometimes not9 and

sometimes in secret! sometimes open$y# And it is in accordance with the dictates of

nature that this shou$d 'e so! for! in the +rst p$ace! the re$a:ation draws the mind



away from human occupations and turns the rea$ mind towards that which is divine9

and! second$y! the re$igious frenMy seems to aCord a kind of divine inspiration and to

'e very $ike that of the soothsayer9 and! third$y! the secrecy with which the sacred

rites are concea$ed induces reverence for the divine! since it imitates the nature of

the divine! which is to avoid 'eing perceived 'y our human senses9 and! fourth$y!

music! which inc$udes dancing as we$$ as rhythm and me$ody! at the same time! 'ythe de$ight it aCords and 'y its artistic 'eauty! 'rings us in touch with the divine!

and this for the fo$$owing reason9 for a$though it has 'een we$$ said that human

'eings then act most $ike the gods when they are doing good to others! yet one

might 'etter say! when they are happy9 and such happiness consists of re,oicing!

ce$e'rating festiva$s! pursuing phi$osophy! and engaging in music#G

Strabo, 5eogra'hy 10. 3. 1% 9

GThey -the poets/ a$so invented some of the names 'y which to designate the

ministers! chora$ dancers! and attendants upon the sacred rites -of Rhea and

ionysos/! I mean Ka'eiroi 6(a'eiri7 and Kory'antes 6(ory'antes7 and "anes and

Satyroi 6Satyrs7 and Tityroi#G

Strabo, 5eogra'hy 10. 3. 1$ @ 21 9

G6.7 Others say that the Kory'antes 6(ory'antes7 were sons of )eus and Ka$$iope

6(a$$iope7 and were identica$ with the Ka'eiroi 6(a'eiri7! and that these went oC to

Samothrake! which in ear$ier times was ca$$ed *e$ite! and that their rites were

mystica$#

617 But though the Skepsian -emetrius of Scepsis! grammarian (1nd B#(#/! who

compi$ed these myths! does not accept the $ast statement! on the ground that no

mystic story of the Ka'eiroi 6(a'eiri7 is to$d in Samothrake! sti$$ he cites a$so the

opinion of Stesim'rotos the Thasian -writer (?th B#(#/ that the sacred rites in

Samothrake were performed in honor of the Ka'eiroi and the Skepsian says that

they were ca$$ed Ka'eiroi after the mountain Ka'eiros in Berekyntia -in *ysia/#

627 Some! however! 'e$ieve that the Kouretes 6(uretes7 were the same as the

Kory'antes and were ministers of Hekate#

67 But the Skepsian again states! in opposition to the words of Euripides! that the

rites of Rhea were not sanctioned or in vogue in Krete! 'ut on$y in "hrygia and the

Troad! and that those who say otherwise are dea$ing in myths rather than in history!

though perhaps the identity of the p$ace%names contri'uted to their making this

mistake# or instance! Ida is not on$y a Tro,an! 'ut a$so a Kretan 6(retan7! mountain9

and ikte is a p$ace in Skepsia -in the Troad/ and a$so a mountain in Krete 6(rete79

and "ytna! after which the city Hierapytna -in Krete/ was named! is a peak of-Tro,an/ Ida# And there is a Hippokorona in the territory of Adramyttion -in the Troad/

and a Hippokoronion in Krete# And Samonion is the eastern promontory of the is$and

and a p$ain in the territory of 4eandria and in that of the A$e:andreians#

6?7 Akousi$aUs -mythographer (?th B#(#/! the Argive! ca$$s Kadmi$os 6(admi$us7 the

son of Ka'eiro 6(a'eiro7 and Hephaistos! and Kadmi$os the father of three Ka'eiroi

6(a'eiri7! and these the fathers of the 4ymphai ca$$ed Ka'eirides 6(a'eirides7#



6@7 "herekydes -another mythographer (?th B#(#/ says that nine Kyr'antes

6(yr'antes7 were sprung from Apo$$on and Rhetia! and that they took up their a'ode

in Samothrake9 and that three Ka'eiroi 6(a'eiri7 and three 4ymphai ca$$ed

Ka'eirides were the chi$dren of Ka'eiro! the daughter of "roteus! and Hephaistos!

and that sacred rites were instituted in honor of each triad#

67 4ow it has so happened that the Ka'eiroi are most honored in Im'ros and&emnos! 'ut they are a$so honored in separate cities of the Troad9 their names!

however! are kept secret# Herodotos -historian (?th B#(#/ says that there were

temp$es of the Ka'eiroi in *emphis! as a$so of Hephaistos -i#e# the Egyptian god

"tah and his sons/! 'ut that Kam'yses destroyed them# The p$aces where these

deities were worshipped are uninha'ited! 'oth the Kory'anteion in Hama:itia in the

territory now 'e$onging to the A$e:andreians near Sminthion! and Kory'issa in

Skepsia in the neigh'orhood of the river EurVeis and of the vi$$age which 'ears the

same name and a$so of the winter torrent Aetha$Weis#NG

Pausanias, Descri'tion o 5reece 4. 1. 7 (trans. Aones! (5ree tra-e#ogue C2nd ".D.!

9G*ethapos was an Athenian 'y 'irth! an e:pert in the mysteries and founder of a$$

kinds of rites# It was he who esta'$ished the *ysteries of the Ka'eiroi 6(a'eiri7 at

The'es#G

Pausanias, Descri'tion o 5reece $. 22. % 9

GLust a'out the centre of Anthedon -in Boiotia/ is a sanctuary of the Ka'eiroi

6(a'eiri7! with a grove around it! near which is a temp$e of emeter and her

daughter! with images of white mar'$e#G

Pausanias, Descri'tion o 5reece $. 2%. % @ 2;. 1 9

G-In the town of The'es in Boiotia/ you come to a grove of emeter Ka'eiraia6(a'eiraea7 and Kore 6(ore7# The initiated are permitted to enter it# The sanctuary of

the Ka'eiroi 6(a'eiri7 is some seven stades distant from this grove# I must ask the

curious to forgive me if I keep si$ence as to who the Ka'eiroi are! and what is the

nature of the ritua$ performed in honour of them and of the *eter 6*other7# But

there is nothing to prevent my dec$aring to a$$ what the The'ans say was the origin

of the ritua$# They say that once there was in this p$ace a city! with inha'itants

ca$$ed Ka'eiroi9 and that emeter came to know "rometheus! one of the Ka'eiroi!

and Aitnaios 6Aetnaeus7 his son! and entrusted something to their keeping -pro'a'$y

the pha$$us of the dismem'ered god )agreus/# ;hat was entrusted to them! and

what happened to it! seemed to me a sin to put into writing! 'ut at any rate therites are a gift of emeter to the Ka'eiroi#

At the time of the invasion of the Epigonoi and the taking of The'es! the Ka'eiroi

were e:pe$$ed from their homes 'y the Argives and the rites for a whi$e ceased to 'e

performed# But they go on to say that afterwards "e$arge! the daughter of "otneius!

and Isthmiades her hus'and esta'$ished the *ysteries here to 'egin with! 'ut

transferred them to the p$ace ca$$ed A$e:iaros# But 'ecause "e$arge conducted the

initiation outside the ancient 'orders! Te$ondes returned again to Ka'eiraia# Parious



honours were to 'e esta'$ished for "e$arge 'y Te$ondes in accordance with an orac$e

from odona! one 'eing the sacri+ce of a pregnant victim#

The wrath of the Ka'eiroi no man may p$acate! as has 'een proved on many

occasions# or certain private peop$e dared to perform in 4aupaktos the ritua$ as it

was done in The'es! and soon afterwards ,ustice overtook them# Then! again!

certain men of the army of Xer:es -the historica$ "ersian genera$/ $eft 'ehind with*ardonios in Boiotia entered the sanctuary of the Ka'eiroi! perhaps in the hope of

great wea$th! 'ut rather! I suspect! to show their contempt of its gods9 a$$ these

immediate$y were struck with madness! and <ung themse$ves to their deaths into

the sea or from the tops of precipices# Again! when A$e:andros -i#e# the historica$

*acedonian $eader A$e:ander the Dreat/ after his victory wasted with +re a$$ the

The'aid! inc$uding The'es itse$f! some men from *akedonia entered the sanctuary

of the Ka'eiroi! as it was in enemy territory! and were destroyed 'y thunder and

$ightning from heaven# So sacred this sanctuary has 'een from the 'eginning#G

Pausanias, Descri'tion o 5reece 10. 3?. 7 9

GThe Amphisians -of &okris/ a$so ce$e'rate *ysteries in honour of the Boy Kings6anates 'aides7! as they are ca$$ed# Their accounts as to who of the gods the Boy

Kings are do not agree9 some say they are the ioskouroi! and others! who pretend

to have fu$$er know$edge! ho$d them to 'e the Ka'eiroi 6(a'eiri7#G

C#e&ent, +*hortation to the 5rees 2. 1; (trans. utterBorth! (5ree Christian

Briter C2nd ".D.! 9

-The ear$y (hristian writer ($ement divu$ges the secret mythos of the Ka'eiroi

6(a'eiri7 of the Samothrakian *ysteries/

GIf you wou$d $ike a vision of the Kory'antian Orgies 6orgia :orybanton7 a$so! this is

the story# Two of the Kory'antes 6(ory'antes7 -i#e# the Ka'eiroi! (a'eiri/ s$ew a third

one! who was their 'rother! covered the head of the corpse with a purp$e c$oak! and

then wreathed and 'uried it! 'earing it upon a 'raMen shie$d to the skirts of

O$ympos# Here we see what the *ysteries 6&ysteria7 are! in one word! murders and

'uria$sY The priests of these *ysteries! whom such as are interested in them ca$$

Anaktote$estes 6"residents of the "rincesN rites7! add a portent to the disma$ ta$e#

They for'id wi$d ce$ery! root and a$$! to 'e p$aced on the ta'$e! for they actua$$y

'e$ieve that wi$d ce$ery grows out of the '$ood that <owed from the murdered

'rother # # # #

The Kory'antes are a$so ca$$ed 'y the name Ka'eiroi! which proc$aims the Rite of

the Ka'eiroi 6te#etes :abeiries7# or this very pair of fratricides got possession of

the chest in which the viri$ia of ionysos -i#e# the pha$$us of the god )agreus whowas dismem'ered 'y the Titanes/ were deposited! and 'rought it to Tyrrhenia -i#e#

&emnos/! traders in g$orious waresY There they so,ourned! 'eing e:i$es! and

communicated their precious teaching of peity! the viri$ia and the chest! to Tyrrhenoi

6Tyrrhenians7 for purposes of worship# or this reason! not unnatura$$y some wish to

ca$$ ionysos Attis! 'ecause he was muti$ated#G



r'hic y&n 31 to the Curetes (trans. ay#or! (5ree hy&ns C3rd .C. to 2nd ".D.! 9

GHymn to the Kouretes 6(uretes7# &eaping Kouretes! who with dancing feet and

circ$ing measures armed footsteps 'eat shoe 'osoms Bacchana$ian furies +rer! who

move in rhythm to the sounding $yre who traces deaf when $ight$y $eaping tread!

arm%'earers! strong defenders! ru$ers dread famed deities the guards 6of

"ersephone7 preserving rites mysterious and divine come! and 'enevo$ent thishymn attend! and with g$ad mind the herdsmanNs $ife defend#G

r'hic y&n 3? to the Curetes 9

GTo the Kouretes 6(uretes7 -here the Ka'eiroi 6(a'eiri7 of Samothrake/! umigation

from rankincense# Brass%'eating Kouretes! ministers of Ares! who wear his arms

the instruments of wars9 whose '$essed frames! heaven! earth! and sea compose!

and from whose 'reath a$$ anima$s arose who dwe$$ in SamothrakeNs sacred ground!

defending morta$s through the sea profound# eath$ess Kouretes! 'y your power

a$one! the greatest mystic rites to men at +rst were shown# ;ho shake o$d Okeanos

6Oceanus7 thundering to the sky! and stu''orn oaks with 'ranches waving high# NTis

yours in g$ittering arms the earth to 'eat! with $ight$y $eaping! rapid! sounding feet9then every 'east the noise terri+c <ies! and the $oud tumu$t wanders through the

skies# The dust your feet e:cites! with match$ess force <ies to the c$ouds amidst

their whir$ing course9 and every <ower of variegated hue grows in the dancing

motion formed 'y you9 immorta$ aimones 6Spirits7! to your powers consigned! the

task to nourish and destroy mankind! when rushing furious with $oud tumu$t dire!

overwhe$med! they perish in your dreadfu$ ire9 and $ive rep$enished with the 'a$my

air! the food of $ife! committed to your care# ;hen shook 'y you! the seas with wi$d

uproar! wide%spreading! and profound$y whir$ing! roar# The concave heavens with

echoNs voice resound! when $eaves with rust$ing noise 'estrew the ground# Kouretes!

Kory'antes! ru$ing kings! whose praise the $and of Samothrake sings9 great )eusNassessors9 whose immorta$ 'reath sustains the sou$! and wafts her 'ack from death9

aeria$%formed! who in O$ympos shine the heaven$y Twins -ioskouroi! ioscuri/ a$$%

$ucid and divine9 '$owing! serene! from whom a'undance springs! nurses of

seasons! fruit%producing kings#G

r'hic y&n 3$ to Corybas 9

GTo Kory'as 6(ory'as7! umigation from rankincense# The mighty ru$er of this

earth$y 'a$$ for ever <owing! to these rites I ca$$9 martia$ and '$est! unseen 'y morta$

sight! preventing fears! and p$eased with g$oomy night hence fancyNs terrors are 'y

thee a$$ayed! a$$%various king! who $ovest the desert shade# Each of thy 'rothers

ki$$ing! '$ood is thine! twofo$d Kourete 6(urete7! many%formed! divine# By theetransmuted! eoNs -emeterNs/ 'ody pure 'ecame a rakonNs savage and o'scure

avert they anger! hear me when I pray! and! 'y +:ed date! drive fancyNs fears

away#G

"e#ian, n "ni&a#s 1%. 23 (trans. Scho#e#d! (5ree natura# history C2nd ".D.! 9

GThey say that the pi$ot%+sh is sacred not on$y to "oseidon 'ut is a$so 'e$oved of the

gods of Samothrake -the Ka'eiroi! (a'eiri/#G



a#erius F#accus, "rgonautica 2. 431 = (trans. )o#ey! (>o&an e'ic C1st ".D.! 9

G-The Argonauts sai$ towards the is$e of Samothrake/ E$ectraNs is$and -Samothrake/

grows $arger! guarding the secret of the Thracian rites -of the Ka'eiroi 6(a'eiri7 and

other gods/9 for here dwe$$s the great and terri'$e god! and here are ordained

pena$ties for an unguarded tongue# 4o storm sent 'y Love -)eus/ ever dares to 'eat

with its 'i$$ows upon this $and9 of his own wi$$ the god makes +erce his waves! whattime he wou$d for'id faith$ess sai$ors to touch his shores# But Thyotes the priest

meets the *inyae -Argonauts/ and 'ids them we$come to the $and and to the

temp$es! revea$ing their *ysteries to his guests# Thus much! Samothrace! has the

poet proc$aimed thee to the nations and the $ight of day9 there stay! and $et us keep

our reverence for ho$y *ysteries# The *inyae! re,oicing in the new $ight of the sun

and fu$$ of their heaven$y visions! seat themse$ves upon the thwarts -and depart

from the is$and/#G

Nonnus, Dionysiaca 3. ;1 = (trans. >ouse! (5ree e'ic C%th ".D.! 9

GA$ready the 'ird of morning was cutting the air with $oud cries -on the is$and of

Samothrake/9 a$ready the he$meted 'ands of desert%haunting Kory'antes -orKa'eiroi! (a'eiri/ were 'eating on their shie$ds in the Knossian 6(nossian7 dance!

and $eaping with rhythmic steps! and the o:hides thudded under the '$ows of the

iron as they whir$ed them a'out in riva$ry! whi$e the dou'$e pipe made music! and

8uickened the dancers with its ro$$icking tune in time to the 'ounding steps# Aye!

and the trees whispered! the rocks 'oomed! the forests he$d ,u'i$ee with their

inte$$igent movings and shakings! and the ryades did sing# "acks of 'ears ,oined

the dance! skipping and whee$ing face to face9 $ions with a roar from emu$ous

throats mimicked the triumphant cry of the priests of the Ka'eiroi! sane in their

madness9 the reve$$ing pipes rang out a tune to honour of Hekate! divine friend of

dogs! those sing$e pipes! which the horn%po$isherNs art invented in KronosN 6(ronusN7days#

The noisy Kory'antes 6(ory'antes7 with their ringing din awoke Kadmos 6(admus7

ear$y in the morning9 the Sidonian seamen a$so with one accord! hearing the never%

si$ent o:hide at dawn! rose from their ratt$ing pe''$y pa$$ets and $eft the 'rine%

'eaten 'ack of the shore#G

Nonnus, Dionysiaca 4. 1?4 = 9

GDrottoes of the Ka'eiroi 6(a'eiri7 and Kory'antian c$iCs -on the is$and of

Samothrake/#G

Nonnus, Dionysiaca 14. 17 = 9G-;hen Rheia summoned the dai&ones to ,oin the army of ionysos for a campaign

against the Indians/ irst from the +repeak rock of &emnos the two Ka'eiroi

6(a'eiri7 in arms answered the stormy ca$$ answered the stormy ca$$ 'eside the

mystic torch of Samos -Samothrake/! two sons of Hephaistos whom Thrakian

Ka'eiro 6(a'eiro7 had 'orne to the heaven$y smith! A$kon and Eurymedon we$$

ski$$ed at the forge! who 'ore their motherNs tri'a$ name#G



Nonnus, Dionysiaca 17. 1$2 = 9

G-uring the Indian ;ar of ionysos/ Orontes -an Indian chief/ dashed hot upon the

front ranks! reaping a harvest in 'oth kinds -men and women/# 4ot one of a$$ the

wide front durst a'ide the adverse onset of so mighty a champion%%not 'o$d +ery

Eurymedon! not A$kon his kinsman -the two Ka'eiroi! (a'eiri/#G

Nonnus, Dionysiaca 24. 77 = 9

G-;hen the Indian River Hydaspes tried to drown the army of ionysos/ Hephaistos

took care of his sons the Ka'eiroi 6(a'eiri7! and caught up 'oth! $ike a <ying

+re'rand#G


G-The Indian eriades addresses his troops/ &et &emnian Ka'eiro 6(a'eiro7

unvei$ed $ament the death of her two sons9 $et sooty Hephaistos throw down his

tongs! and see the destroyer of his race sitting in the car of the Ka'eiro 6(a'eiri7i!

see eriades driving the 'ronMefoot horsesYG

Nonnus, Dionysiaca 27. 32% = 9

G-)eus encourages Hephaistos to he$p ionysos during the Indian ;ar/ o you sit

sti$$! Hephaistos! and wi$$ not you save your chi$drenZ &ift your accustomed torch to

defend the Ka'eiroi 6(a'eiri79 turn your eye and see your ancient 'ride! your

Ka'eiro! reproaching you in $ove for her sons#G

Nonnus, Dionysiaca 2$. 1$3 = 9

G-uring ionysosN war with the Indians/ Two +restrong citiMens of Samothrake -the

Ka'eiroi! (a'eiri/ a$so ran wi$d! sons of &emnian Ka'eiro9 their eyes <ashed out their

own natura$ sparks! which came from the red smoky <ame of their father

Hephaistos# They rode in a car of adamant9 a pair of co$ts 'eat the dust with ratt$inghooves of 'rass! and they sent out a dry whinnying from their throats# These father

Hephaistos had made with his inimita'$e art! 'reathing de+ant +re 'etween their

teeth! $ike the pair of 'raMenfooted 'u$$s which he made for Aietes the redou'ta'$e

ru$er of the Ko$khians 6(o$chians7! with hot co$$ars and 'urning po$e# Eurymedon

-one of the Ka'eiroi/ drove and guided the +ery mouths of the ironfoot steeds with a

+ery 'rid$e9 in his right hand he he$d a &emnian spear made on his fatherNs anvi$!

and 'y his we$$made thigh hung a <ashing sword%%if a man picked up a sma$$ stone

in his +ngertips and struck it against the +re%grained surface of the sharp '$ade!

sparks <ashed of themse$ves from the stee$# A$kon grasped a +ery 'o$t in one hand!

and swung a'out a festa$ torch of Hekate from his own country#G

Nonnus, Dionsyiaca 30. 42 = 9

G-uring the Indian ;ar of ionysos/ The prodigious -Indian chief/ *orrheus

attacked the warriors of Bromios -ionysos/# He wounded -the Ka'eiros! (a'eirus7

Eurymedon! cut through the groin with his '$ood%stained spear the mad point ran

through the thigh and tore the skin from the fat of the <esh9 co$$apsing he fe$$ on his

knee to the ground# *ai$c$ad A$kon -the other Ka'eiros/ did not neg$ect his 'rotherNs



fa$$9 'ut $ifting spear and round 'uck$er he made for the fa$$en man! and covered the

warrior we$$! ho$ding the shie$d tower%$ike over his 'ody! and thrusting right and $eft

his unresting spear! 'rother protecting 'rother against the foe# He strad$ed across

the wounded man! as a $ion over his cu's! shouting $oud and $etting out mad

Kory'antic cries from his $ips# ;hen *orrheus saw him moving with neat steps

a'out his 'rother! defending the fa$$en Ka'eiros! the monster went raging $ike Typhon and attacked 'oth 'rothers! that Ka'eiro might shed her tears for two dead

sons! s$ain in one day with one spear# And now he wou$d have dea$t e8ua$

destruction to 'oth! 'ut Eurymedon ca$$ed upon his &emnian father -Hephaistos/

with voice that gasped and strained from his mouth O ather! +re'reathing $ord of

our $a'orious artY Drant me the 'oon once earned! when eo -emeter/ of the

threshing%<oor a$one seiMed threec$iC Sike$ia 6Sici$y7! as sightingpriMe for

"ersephoneia hidden there! and knocked over your wind'$own 'e$$ows in the west

and your wide forge and gripping tongs 'ut I defended my father and scared her

oC! protecting your anvi$# 5ou owe it to me that the air is '$ack and hot with your

Sike$ian sparksY Then save your son I pray! whom savage *orrheus has woundedY

At these words +ery Hephaistos $eapt down from heaven! and sent a <ame $eaping

and <uttering with many tongues a'out his son! whir$ing in his hand a shoot of +re#

A'out *orrheusN neck the <ame craw$ed and cur$ed itse$f as if it knew what it was

doing! and ro$$ed round his throat a neck$ace of +re'$aMing constraint9 the '$aMing

throat once encirc$ed! it rand down with a springing movement to the end of his

toes! and wove a p$ait of +ery threads over the warriorNs foot! and there +rm$y +:t

the earth scattered its dancing spars%%the he$met caught +re and his head was hot

enoughY And now he wou$d have fa$$en <at! struck with the +ery shot! had not

eriadesN -river%god/ father Hydaspes come to the rescue# or he sat watching the

'att$e high on a rock! his fu$$%form having a fa$se guise of human shape# He poured a

8uenching stream and saved the manNs $ife! coo$ing the hot '$ast from the+re'eaten face! 'rushing oC the ashes and dirt from the he$met# Then he caught up

*orrheus wrapt in a darksome c$oud! covered and hid his $im's in a $ivid mist9 that

the +re'earing (rookshank -Hephaistos/ might not destroy him with his '$aMing

shower of dead$y &emnian <ame9 that o$d Hydaspes! the tender%hearted father!

might not see another goodson of eriades perish after the +rst! and $ament the

death of *orrheus a$ong with Orontes# But +re'earing Hephaistos drove away a$$ the

warriors who stood round the ,ust%wounded 'oy# Then $ifting his son on his shou$der

he took him out of the fray and rested him against an oaktree hard 'y9 he spread

simp$es upon the wounded groin! and saved him a$ive his after his co$$apse#G

Nonnus, Dionysiaca 30. 13% = 9

G-uring the Indian ;ar of ionsysos/ *ad$y he -the Indian Tektaphos/ pursued the

army of &yaios -ionysos/ and -s$ew severa$ Satyroi/ # # # and indeed he wou$d have

ki$$ed a crowd of Bakkhai 6Bacchae7 'esides9 'ut 8uickfoot Eurymedon -one of the

Ka'eiroi! (a'eiri/ saw him and rushed up! shaking his Kory'antian twi'i$$ against

him# He smashed his forehead and c$ove his head#G




G-A Bassarid/ whose home was in the Samothrakian cavern of the Ka'eiroi 6(a'eiri7!

skipt a'out the peaks of &e'anon crooning the 'ar'arous notes of Kory'antian

tune#G

Suidas s.-. Eerynthia (trans. Suda n /ine! (yantine 5ree #e*icon C10th ".D.! 9G)erinthian cave! where they used to sacri+ce dogs# There the mysteries of the

Kory'antes 6(ory'antes7 -i#e# the Ka'eiroi/ and of Hekate took p$ace#G

Suidas s.-. "## ei tis hu&Gn en Sa&othraiei &e&ue&enos esti 9

G "## ei tis hu&Gn en Sa&othraiei &e&ue&enos esti 6But if there is someone

among you initiated in Samothrake! now is a +ne time to pray that 'oth feet of the

pursuer 'e put out of ,oint7 In Samothrake there were certain initiation%rites! which

they supposed ecacious as a charm against certain dangers# In that p$ace were

a$so the mysteries of the Kory'antes 6(ory'antes7 -i#e# the Ka'eiroi/ and those of

Hekate and the )erinthian cave! where they sacri+ced dogs# The initiates supposed

that these things save -them/ from terrors and from storms# The 'one%socket of thepursuer to 'e 'e put out of ,oint means to 'e distorted and dis$ocated# The way

forward 'ecomes an o'stac$e to him! so that he can no $onger turn 'ack#G

Dreek 4ame Trans$iteration &atin Spe$$ing Trans$ation[

\]^_`]b Aitnaios Aetnaeus Of *t Aetna Z

__b Onns Onnes "urchaser

__b TJnns Tonnes This%OneZ

jl_ EurymedJn Eurymedon *any%evices

\_ A$kJn A$con Strong%One

Sources9

o "eschy#us, Frag&ents @ 5ree ragedy C%th .C.

o "'o##onius >hodius, he "rgonautica @ 5ree +'ic C3rd .C.

o

Ca##i&achus, Frag&ents @ 5ree Poetry C3rd .C.

o erodotus, istories @ 5ree istory C%th C

o Diodorus Sicu#us, he /ibrary o istory @ 5ree istory C1st .C.

o Strabo, 5eogra'hy @ 5ree 5eogra'hy C1st .C. @ C1st ".D.

o Pausanias, Descri'tion o 5reece @ 5ree ra-e#ogue C2nd ".D.

http://www.theoi.com/Bibliography.html

http://www.theoi.com/Bibliography.html



o C#e&ent, +*hortation @ 5ree Christian C2nd ".D.

o he r'hic y&ns @ 5ree y&ns C3rd .C. @ C2nd ".D.

o "e#ian, n "ni&a#s @ 5ree Natura# istory C2nd3rd ".D.

o a#erius F#accus, he "rgonautica @ /atin +'ic C1st ".D.

o Nonnos, Dionysiaca @ 5ree +'ic C%th ".D.

o Suidas @ yantine 5ree /e*icon C10th ".D.

ther reerences not current#y Huoted here9 Dionysius o a#icarnassus 1.23.%

the kabeiroi were twin gods or

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